Fight (or race) for a cause!

Like millions of others, my martial arts inspiration always has been Bruce Lee.

I have wanted to practice martial arts since I 8 years old, when I saw “Enter the Dragon” upon its release. I started boxing when I was 12 and wrestling a little later. I threw the shot and discus on track in high school, but never was much of a runner.

But then I started to mountain bike around the age of 25 and became interested in doing a triathlon. The extremes of the Iron Man and my ever expanding waist line prevented that from happening. But then I found out about sprint triathlons with distances I now can handle having gotten in shape the past year doing kickboxing and my own Fight4Life total fitness, sport-specific interval program.

For the past eight months, I have applied Fight4Life to kickboxing, but I now also am applying it to cycling and running and eventually swimming (as soon as the opportunity presents itself). Next race season, I want to be able to participate in triathlons, as well as other races, for two charitable causes that are very dear to my heart: JT Foundation for Autism Awareness (www.thejtfoundation.org) and the American Diabetes Association (www.diabetes.org).

John Hughes, founder of the JT Foundation for Autism Awareness with his wife, Kim, and their son, JT, whose autism inspired his father to take action.

JT Foundation was founded by John Hughes, my best friend in high school. His adorable son, JT, has autism. Being a champion runner, John thought it was a good idea to use his gift to bring awareness to a disease that has impacted not only his family but millions of others.

JT cheers on members of Team for Autism Awareness.

According to recent statistics, 66 children are diagnosed with Autism daily — 1 in every 150 children! Autism now is more prevalent in children than pediatric cancer, diabetes and AIDS combined! And yet, little is known about how to prevent, cure or even treat the disease. That is why the Team for Autism Awareness does what it does: race for answers about autism. It would be great if you could join us: http://thejtfoundation.org/application.html. In addition to supporting an excellent cause, you get a cool blue racing shirt if you do.

Me on the right wearing my cool blue Team for Autism Awareness shirt with Pat Grieco, director of nutrition at the Gold's Gym in Old Bridge. We were celebrating the gyms grand opening on Sept. 12.

A little less than a year ago, I was diagnosed with diabetes. I since have lost 40 pounds, mostly with the Fight4Life exercise program I designed, as well as sound nutrition. My diabetes is completely under control. In thanksgiving, I would like participate in Tour de Cure, the American Diabetes Association’s annual bike ride to raise funds to fight the chronic disease. Check it out at http://tour.diabetes.org/site/PageServer?pagename=TC_homepage.

If you have diabetes, you can ride in the American Diabetes Association's Tour de Cure next June in three Jersey locations and receive this cool red racing jersey, which will designate you as a Red Rider.

I want to thank my Gannett colleague Deirdre Pitney for giving me the motivation to participate in triathlons and other races and for giving me her great new book, “Triathlon Training for Dummies,” which she wrote with champion triathlete Donna Dourney. Donna is a well-certified trainer and a coach to many new triathletes.

"Triathlon Training for Dummies," co-authored by longtime Courier News writer-editor Deirdre Pitney, will get you in shape in time for the start of next spring's racing season.

If you don’t think you can get in good enough shape to enter a triathlon or other race, read Deirdre and Donna’s book. It’s an easy, step-by-step guide that shows how to get in shape, train and avoid injury, among many other useful tools. I love it and am reading it while incorporating my initial phases of triathlon training into my Fight4Life program. I am concentrating a little less on kickboxing and more on running and cycling, then eventually swimming.

Deirdre competed in her first triathlon earlier this month with the New Jersey leg of the Danksin Women’s Triathlon Series: http://www.danskinwomenstri.com/. She is about to complete a three-day, 227-mile bike ride from Hershey, Pa. to Duke Island Park in Bridgewater. Hershey’s Tour de Pink is to benefit the Young Survival Coalition (www.youngsurvival.org), a nonprofit organization dedicated to the needs of young women diagnosed with breast cancer.

Deirdre lost her mom to breast cancer at all too young an age. She is riding with her 40-year-old friend, Cindy, who has breast cancer. Find out why Deirdre rides and donate to her cause at http://active.com/donate/tourdepink/deirdre.

Deirdre's friend Cindy at her 40th birthday. They are riding the three-day, 227-mile Tour de Pink bike ride from Hershey, Pa. to Bridgewater early next month.

I want to encourage martial artists either to give their gift back to charity, such as participating in a grappling event that raises money for a good cause, or to consider adding triathlon training to their regimen so that they can race with Team Autism, Tour de Cure and the like. Like martial arts, training for triathlons requires and strengthens total fitness, especially through-the-roof cardio, so it actually will make you a better martial artist, just as being a martial artist will make you a better triathlete. You still can train to be a martial artist but add cycling and swimming to the road work you do for cardio.

The bottom line is you have to fight for more than just your own glory. Fighting for a cause makes the fighting even more worthwhile. If you can’t fight for a cause, then run, cycle and/or swim for one, and then fight on the side. The world will be a much better place if you do.

About Bob Makin

Bob Makin is a multimedia watchdog reporter for the Home News Tribune, Courier News and MyCentralJersey.com. He has been with Gannett 20 years and a journalist for 34. He also is a former fitness coach specializing in sports-specific training and methods to fight diabetes and heal from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, two illnesses Makin has been able to control through exercise and nutrition. A former competitive boxer and wrestler, Makin relies heavily on mixed martial arts as a form of exercise.

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About this Blog

No other exercise works on strength, power, speed, stamina, endurance, agility, balance, flexibility, mind and spirit all at the same time like mixed martial arts. Mixed martial arts also is the country’s fastest-growing sport and boasts the most pay-per-view sales.